Game Recap: Ponies Grab Lead Late to Defeat SeaWolves on Thursday

2023 Binghamton Rumble Ponies Team set

For Immediate Release

Date: July 20, 2023 by Matt Levine

Box Score

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (6-11, 41-45), playing as Los Cóndores de Binghamton, grabbed the lead in the seventh inning and defeated the Erie SeaWolves 8-6 on Thursday night at Mirabito Stadium.

With the game tied 5-5 in the seventh, Brandon McIlwain reached second base on an error and Matt O'Neill drove him in to give Binghamton a 6-5 lead. Later in the inning, Jose Mena delivered an RBI single to put the Ponies up 8-5.

Erie (10-7, 47-38) threatened in the top of the ninth with a leadoff homer from Julio Rodriguez. William Woods slammed the door on his third save and stranded the bases loaded to secure the 8-6 victory.

The SeaWolves got on the board first with three runs in the first inning. They scored on two separate passed balls and an RBI fielder's choice from Chris Meyers.

Binghamton took its first lead of the night with a four-run second inning. Agustin Ruiz slammed a game-tying three-run homer that scored McIlwain and O'Neill. Later in the frame, Warren Saunders hit a go-ahead RBI single that scored Jaylen Palmer to make it 4-3.

The Ponies added another run on an RBI fielder's choice from Ruiz in the third that made it 5-3.

Down two runs in the fifth inning, Erie tied the game against Dom Hamel. Justice Bigbie drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Wenceel Perez tied it with an RBI single.

The Ponies used late offense and strong relief pitching to secure the victory. Hunter Parsons tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Wilkin Ramos tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout and earned the win in his Double-A debut. Daniel Juarez tossed a perfect eighth with a strikeout, and Woods secured the save by stranding the bases loaded.

The Rumble Ponies will continue their series with the SeaWolves on Friday night at Mirabito Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM and pregame coverage will get underway at 6:50 PM on the WNBF Rumble Ponies Radio Network.

Postgame Notes: Ruiz drove in four runs in a game for the second time this season and for the first time since he hit a grand slam at Altoona on May 30…Saunders had an RBI single for the second-straight game…McIlwain and O'Neill had multi-hit games…Wyatt Young went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run…McIlwain scored three times.